Posting a few shots of Elizabeth proof coins and a take on the coin market..
canadacolornut
Posts: 995 ✭
I'm ambivalent about these coins, but I have high hopes that a couple of them will make it-to PCGS PR 65 CAM at least.
In defense of the carried away bidders on Ebay the other night, it isn't really at that easy to locate 1953 proof Elizabeth !!
coins that make it to PR 65 levels or better, and also demonstrate reasonable cameo devices.
The reason is that, regardless of the numbers minted, most all of them were kept in their original satin surfaced
containers that, combined with time and humidity, produced a lot of spotting and milky fields on the coins they
contained.
Additionally, as i noted earlier, only the first couple of dozen coins off fresh dies are going to produce heavy
cameo contrast-the premium quality that most collectors look for.
The examples I'm going to post are marginal at best. And they came from a set that the owners encased in
lucite holders to avoid the usually carbon spotting on the coppers and milky fields on the silver coins.
I paid $125 for this set and it's one of the nicer ones. So we aren't talking about huge layouts here.
But of the 11 coins in the set, I found only 2 that displayed nice cameo contrast and 3 that might make
PR 65 on the PCGS grading scale. So it ain't as easy as some might imagine.
I have a deep affinity for the 1953 Elizabeth Coronation set since I was stationed at RAF bases in the
country for about 2 years during that period and witnessed the coronation parade for Elizabeth !!,
albeit in a Guiness soaked stage that resulted in my being snapped off a conga line into the Trafalgar
Square fountain.
Was I smart enough to buy these babies up in their original red, satin lined cases, for about $10 U.S.?
Obviously, like so many short sighted collectors, NOT.
Yes, I bought a few Elizabeth tea spoons, saucers and such, and a mint set in plastic that quickly became a PVC
contaminated mess that is practically worthless- but nothing at all as astute and far sighted as cherry picking the
proof sets and storing the gem coins away.
Rob Pearce has commented on these sets, quite accurately, as being "common".
But I've got a standing order with him, and a couple of other dealers in England, to purchase for an appropriate
premium ANY 1953 proof coin with strong cameo contrast on both sides that will make at least the PCGS 65
CAM designation.
Anyway, here are a couple of the coins I'll be submitting, just to salvage, perhaps, a coin or two that will fit
into the Registry set I'm working on.
Not the best photography since I always have to tilt the coin to bring out the best contrast and color,
but hopefully you get the idea..
In defense of the carried away bidders on Ebay the other night, it isn't really at that easy to locate 1953 proof Elizabeth !!
coins that make it to PR 65 levels or better, and also demonstrate reasonable cameo devices.
The reason is that, regardless of the numbers minted, most all of them were kept in their original satin surfaced
containers that, combined with time and humidity, produced a lot of spotting and milky fields on the coins they
contained.
Additionally, as i noted earlier, only the first couple of dozen coins off fresh dies are going to produce heavy
cameo contrast-the premium quality that most collectors look for.
The examples I'm going to post are marginal at best. And they came from a set that the owners encased in
lucite holders to avoid the usually carbon spotting on the coppers and milky fields on the silver coins.
I paid $125 for this set and it's one of the nicer ones. So we aren't talking about huge layouts here.
But of the 11 coins in the set, I found only 2 that displayed nice cameo contrast and 3 that might make
PR 65 on the PCGS grading scale. So it ain't as easy as some might imagine.
I have a deep affinity for the 1953 Elizabeth Coronation set since I was stationed at RAF bases in the
country for about 2 years during that period and witnessed the coronation parade for Elizabeth !!,
albeit in a Guiness soaked stage that resulted in my being snapped off a conga line into the Trafalgar
Square fountain.
Was I smart enough to buy these babies up in their original red, satin lined cases, for about $10 U.S.?
Obviously, like so many short sighted collectors, NOT.
Yes, I bought a few Elizabeth tea spoons, saucers and such, and a mint set in plastic that quickly became a PVC
contaminated mess that is practically worthless- but nothing at all as astute and far sighted as cherry picking the
proof sets and storing the gem coins away.
Rob Pearce has commented on these sets, quite accurately, as being "common".
But I've got a standing order with him, and a couple of other dealers in England, to purchase for an appropriate
premium ANY 1953 proof coin with strong cameo contrast on both sides that will make at least the PCGS 65
CAM designation.
Anyway, here are a couple of the coins I'll be submitting, just to salvage, perhaps, a coin or two that will fit
into the Registry set I'm working on.
Not the best photography since I always have to tilt the coin to bring out the best contrast and color,
but hopefully you get the idea..
No,no- the kids and the cat are all right honey.
It's just that I got my PCGS grades.
It's just that I got my PCGS grades.
0
Comments
3d is hard to call for cameo at least on my computer.
Well, just Love coins, period.
Here's the reverse of the crown.
As I said-marginal. The cameo is there; but lots of distractions.
I'm also posting the obverse of the half crown and reverse of the half penny.
Again a of field distractions on the half crown.
When you tilt the coin the milky areas disappear but it will be interesting to see how PCGS treats it.
Not kindly I imagine
It's just that I got my PCGS grades.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Life member #369 of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association
Member of Canadian Association of Token Collectors
Collector of:
Canadian coins and pre-confederation tokens
Darkside proof/mint sets dated 1960
My Ebay
Not much chance for the crown and half crown.
I may try dipping a couple of pieces if I think it would help.
It's just that I got my PCGS grades.
If any of you have high-quality raw goodies out there, and are looking to sell, get them slabbed, and throw the Krause catalogue into the recycling bin, as the price list is useless!
The internet has certainly made the world much smaller, as I am selling "darkside" coins all over the Empire!
Ed
And I'm sure you're aware that one newbie(35 feedbacks if I remember correctly) was responsible
for the runup on several, if not most, of them.
Looking forward to seeing more when you get them.
Maybe "o...." will be on vacation or something
It's just that I got my PCGS grades.